Two Wheels To Nowhere

Pretty River Roller Coaster

(Spectacular cycling up and down the Niagara Escarpment! I highly recommend this route; so quiet and picturesque.)

I parked at the Arena in Creemore, a great place for a last minute washroom break and water bottle fill up. I started with an immediate, steep 3 kilometre climb heading north. As I regain my breath at the top, I take in the beautiful view east over the Minesing Swamp where patchy snow cover is quickly receding from low lying fields and wetlands.

A virtual freefall for 10 kilometres towards Collingwood chilled me as I let my engine idle for a stretch. Turning west, I see the Escarpment looming large at the end of the pin straight lane that lies before me.

At the foot of the escarpment I see a sign that indicates steep winding road for 8 kilometres, as I nestle up to the border of the pretty River Provincial Park. The terrain here is breathtaking, in more ways than one! This Valley is aptly named.

At the top, I begin to see many signs stapled to trees and fence posts, protesting the wind turbines that are being commissioned to generate electricity in the wind swept Highlands of Grey County. I see the odd sign lying face down in the snow, knocked down by – you guessed it – the persistent high winds that blow through the area. The irony is sweet. Mother Nature always prevails.

It seems I am still climbing slightly for the next 10 kilometres as I head south into a warm breeze that pushes like a gentle hand against me, reminding me to slow down and take in the scenery.

Finally, turning east again at the intersection that is signed “Badjeros” I feel I am in an old Western movie riding through a one-horse-town, following horses hoof prints on the side of the road for several kilometres. Now I see the loathed wind turbines; about twenty massive white structures standing idle against the grey sky, with another half dozen a few kilometres west spinning in the steady breeze. Have the local protests arrested the development of this power generation project?

Finally, I reach a crest on the escarpment and pass signs telling me of winding roads for 4 kilometres and reminding truck drivers to use low gears to decend. Along this route, I follow the white waters of the Noisy River. The effortless decent is welcomed by my weary legs. Near the bottom, I pass a large tanker truck emblazoned with a “Fresh Spring Water” logo parked on the side of the road, piping to its tank the ice cold water that gushes out of the rock here. Presumably, the same water that goes into brewing Creemore Springs beer, just down the road. Mmmmm, beeeeer!

The last few kilometres wind peacefully back into the village on mostly level roads, still following the river, where I find my car patiently waiting to take me home. As I pull out of the empty arena parking lot to get a coffee at the Hasty Market, I think to myself, “I’ll be back!”. Oh, yes. I’ll be back.